Holiday tea at the Brown Palace

 
Denver is full of festive holiday traditions, from the Parade of Lights to the NYE fireworks over the Clocktower. One tradition I have long-wanted to participate in is holiday high tea at the Brown Palace. My mom, sister, niece and I finally scored a reservation (in August) and attended this past weekend!

The lobby is filled with a beautiful Christmas tree, an opulent chandelier and the sounds of a live pianist. We each chose our own tea (peppermint for me) and were served a delicious spread of scones, tea sandwiches and treats! It was the perfect start to the holiday season. 

It's best to make your reservation now for next year, as the holiday tea fills up fast! If you didn't get in this year, here's a little tip: The Brown Palace has a coffee shop just off the lobby; head there and grab a tea-to-go (and a croissant for good measure) then walk around the lobby and admire the decorations! It's sort of like the poor-girl's version of holiday tea, but still guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit! 

 

Denverites: have you ever had tea at the Brown Palace? 

More Christmas posts:
Holiday bucket list 2013
Our 2013 Christmas card
If you do one thing this holiday season...

Best of: Park Hill and Stapleton

Lucky for us, our friend just bought the house across the street from us! She's never lived on our side of town so I thought I'd give her a little neighborhood guide to a few of our favorite spots in Park Hill/Stapleton. Everything here is within a couple miles of our street, tried and tested by us!

Welcome to the neighborhood, Lauren!

Park Hill Restaurants
Table Top (22nd & Oneida)
-Fun place for date night or happy hour, great food

Neighbor's Wine Bar (22nd and Kearney)
-Good for a glass of wine, patio

Cherry Tomato (23rd and Dexter)

-Italian food

Oblios Pizza (22nd & Kearney)
-Take away pizza, can sit and eat too, casual

Spicy Thai Sushi Wow (22nd & Oneida)
-Takeout/delivery for Thai food and sushi

Stapleton Restaurants

The Bistro at Stapleton (29th and Ulster)

-Wine, cheese plates, little french cafe-type place

Udi's/Etai's Cafe (29th & Quebec)
-Good breakfast spot
-They deliver dinner!

Coffee Shops
Starbucks (29th & Quebec)
-In Stapleton Town Center, also in King Soopers

Cake Crumbs (22nd and Kearney)
-Breakfast, coffee, cupcakes

Ice Cream
Nuggs Ice Cream (Fairfax & Colfax)
Menchies (Northfield Stapleton, by movie theater)

Park Hill Grocery Stores
King Soopers (27th and Quebec)
Safeway (13th and Kearney)

Spinelli's (23rd and Dexter)

Liquor Stores
Grape Expectations (23rd & Kearney)
-Lots of wine
Oneida Liquors (22nd & Oneida)
-Cheap

Stapleton Nail Salon
Sweet Life Nail Bar (23rd & Valentia-ish)
-Cute, clean place

Hardware Stores

Ace Hardware (Colfax & Oneida)

Home Depot (Quebec Square)

East Denver Gyms
Corepower Yoga (29th and Quebec)
Stapleton/Central Park Rec Center (MLK & Emporia)

Walk, run or ride bikes up and down Montview (pretty houses)

Stapleton Shopping Centers

Stapleton Town Center (29th and Quebec)Einsteins
Starbucks
Corepower
Udi's/Etai's 

Liquor store

Walgreens
Library

Farmer's market (Sundays)

Quebec Square: (Just past MLK on Quebec):
Home Depot
Party City
UPS Store
Rocky Mountain Green Chili Company
Panera
Jimmy Johns

Park Hill/Stapleton residents: what are your favorite spots in the neighborhood?

Around here

Well April just flew by didn't it? And, what do you know, it's already mid-May! Here's just a little bit of what we're up to around here.

Celebrated our birthdays by relaxing in lovely Puerto Vallarta.

 

Sipped rose with our neighbors at Neighbors, the wine bar down the street.

Planted vines and herbs and got really dirty spreading mulch, as homeowners do.

Cheered on the Rockies on the new Coors Field rooftop when Sara was in town.

Got silly with Winnie one afternoon. Eye see you...

Just a small peek at my phone pictures as of late. I have some fun freelance articles to share coming up later in the week, so stay tuned! xo

7 favorite made-in-Colorado products

Colorado is filled with unique, inspiring products made by our friends and neighbors. Support local, small businesses by buying direct from these makers. From online shops to local handmade markets, it's easy to find a Colorado-proud product you're looking for. These are my seven favorite made-in-Colorado products.

Artifact Uprising Instagram books
These books are just what you need to get all those precious iPhone photos off your phone and into an album! Perfect for snap-happy, on the go folks, you can upload photos from your phone into their app and get your book printed in a flash! They're based in Denver.

Chocolove chocolate bars
This Boulder-based company makes amazing dark chocolate bars. The Almonds and Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate is my personal favorite, but there are 23 other decadent Chocolove flavors. It's an easy treat to pick up at the store and the perfect way to take advantage of the antioxidants in dark chocolate!

Clean Getaway soap
These small-bath soaps are made in Denver and smell fantastic. I personally love the Mahalo scent, which smells like vacation! The Clean Getaway folks are present at many summer markets, or you can shop their website.

Mile High Spirits Fireside Whiskey
Mile High Spirits distillery and bar is located in the Rino neighborhood of Denver. My husband loves their Fireside Whiskey; at only $23, it's a steal! They also sell their own rum, vodka and gin.

Oh, Sweet Joy! headbands
Kim is a adorable local blogger who also makes these darling headbands! I have one in a dark hunter green and it goes with everything. Perfect to dress up your hair on a potentially bad hair day! She's based in Boulder and will ship anywhere!

Pressery fresh-pressed juices
I first found these refreshing juices last summer at the Cherry Creek Farmer's Market. They quickly became a weekly treat; the green chia blend is my go-to on hot summer days. The juices are now available at the Boulder and Cherry Creek Whole Foods.

Tuffy Kickshaw popcorn
I'm warning you now, this snack is addicting. The Tuffy Kickshaw Whiskey 'n Brown Butter flavor is made with Stranahan's Whiskey (another Colorado native)! I bought a few bags of these for gifts over the holidays and managed to eat them all by myself. Whoops!

What are your favorite made-in-Colorado products or small businesses? Here are a few of my favorite local small businesses here in Denver.

Small business saturday in central Denver

Small business saturday is this weekend, on Nov. 30. You won't need a paper full of ads (or a 2 a.m. alarm) to decide where to shop; just think of the local shops that make your city charming! 

I've mapped out my list and plan on staying within four miles of my house, in the City Park, Congress Park, East Colfax and Park Hill neighborhoods. 

1. The Weathervane Cafe

First things first - caffeine! I plan on swinging through the Weathervane Cafe on 17th for one of their decadent lattes, and maybe some oatmeal to fuel up for the big day. 

2. Sugar Plum Bazaar

Next, I'll try to hit the Sugar Plum Bazaar soon after they open at 10. This is a darling little handmade market in a historic mansion near City Park. It features lots of small local businesses. I'm absolutely certain I can find something for my Secret Santa, and probably something for myself, too (shh!).

3. Tattered Cover 

Going to pick up a couple fun kids books for my nephew here. Thinking about the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, in French, so Uncle Max can read him a story! Magazines are also fun stocking stuffers - I try give travel-specific ones (i.e. Sunset magazine for an upcoming trip to the west coast).

4. The Lamb Shoppe

I'll be stocking up on yarn here to make a couple more circle scarves. Thinking some thick wool in festive colors like evergreen, plum and oxblood!

5. Marczyk Fine Foods

After a long day of shopping, the last thing I want to do is cook! I'll plan on running into my favorite little market on the way home to pick up dinner. Maybe a couple of their amazing sandwiches? I should also stock up on any baking supplies I might need for neighbor and coworker gifts (cookies, crumbles and truffles, oh my)! 

6. Oneida Liquors

This is a teeny little shop near my house and the owner is such a nice guy. I plan on picking up several bottles of champagne to bring to holiday celebrations this season. Also, my family is doing an "adult beverage white elephant" exchange, so I'll need to grab something fun for that.

My Small Business Saturday map

What about you, Denver friends? Where are you planning on shopping on Small business saturday?

Holiday bucket list 2013

Oh my gosh, I may have already indulged in a peppermint mocha this season, shh! And after spending a quality evening crafting cute little red flowers at West Elm Denver last night, I am sufficiently in the mood for the holiday season. Colorado is picture-perfect during the holidays; from snowy pine trees to the magical lights on the City & County building, we are spoiled with cheer around these parts.

Break out the Bing and the bubbly, friends! There are gifts to buy, parties to attend and time off to be had. With so much to do, I don't want to forget to check off some of my favorite activities this season! Here's my top 10 must-do list this season:

Denver folks - what are your must-dos during the holidays? Parade of Lights? New Year's Eve fireworks on the mall? Do tell below...

Denver's best restaurants 2013

I love looking over 5280 Magazine's food lists - best cocktails, breakfasts, new restaurants, etc. I save most issues and peek through each one when I need a little dining inspiration!

Their 25 Best Restaurants 2013 list came out this month; looks like I have been to seven.

7. Fruition - we had a splendid birthday dinner here this year. 

12. The Populist - just tried their happy hour last month, they have the sweetest little patio (pictured -->)

19. Duo - brunch and a holiday party - both were leisurely and delicious.

21. Tag - three words: duck fat fries. 

22. Linger - the La rosa might be my favorite cocktail in Denver and their food is unique!

23. Trillium - a little taste of Scandinavia, their food is light and flavorful.

24. Euclid Hall - went for the poutine, which my Quebecois didn't love.

And, I'd like to go to these five. Which one should we try first? 

1.  Frasca 

8.  Luca d'italia 

13. Beast and Bottle 

18. Rioja 

20. Il posto 

My summer fun to-do list

In between attending 3 weddings and moving this summer, there are lot of other things I want to fit in! Here's my summer fun 2012 to-do list:

1. Read 3 books
-Fifty Shades of Grey, the Twitter Diaries and Swimming to Elba are on my Kindle wish list.

2. Make a pie from scratch - even the crust!
-Thinking blackberry or rhubarb

3. Bike ride + picnic at City Park Jazz
-Can't forget the brie, baguette and white wine

4. Go to a Food Truck Party
-Justice League of Street food or Food Truck Renegades or Civic Center Eats

5. Host a Pinterest party
-Have the girls bring their DIY projects over for a crafty afternoon

6. Celebrate St. Jean Baptiste (June 24) with a Canadian dinner
-Poutine, maple syrup cookies and Molson beer count as a meal, right?

7. Go on a hike at Garden of the Gods 
-Follow up with a trip to Dunkin Donuts in the springs

8. Go to two Rockies games
-I can't believe we haven't been to a game yet!

9. See a movie at the drive-in
-There's one close to Denver! The 88 Drive In 

10. Have a pool day
-Will have to invite myself to the Mansion for this.

Bonus activities if I can fit them in: eat a lot of smores, hit the farmer's markets a lot, see fireworks on the Fourth of July, head to Boulder for an afternoon, go to a winery, attend a farm dinner...

I'll have to check in after Labor Day to see how much I checked off the list. Any more ideas for me?!

Denver dining project March and April

Still going strong on my resolution to try new places in Denver instead of relying on my old favorites! Here are the new-to-me dining spots I tried:

March:

Trillium
Went to Trillium for Restaurant Week with the girls, and it was tasty! I had this amazing beet ravioli, where the beet made up the ravioli (instead of noodles) and was stuffed with goat cheese. Yum! I liked the atmosphere and they even had a "Riesling of the month," which I appreciated!

Strings
Max and I had a little date night at Strings, which has been around forever. It was busy busy doe to Denver Restaurant Week. While the service was great and the food was equally good, I didn't love the atmosphere. It felt a little stale, like they had not updated anything since the early 90s. Also, I am pretty sure we were the youngest people there!

Steak n Shake
Bree and I went to try out CO's newest burger chain, Steak n Shake, now that the crowds have died down! I had a regular cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate milkshake! I will say it was a lot cheaper than I expected! I think I like 5 Guys' burgers better, but Steak n Shake does have milkshakes, and 5 Guys doesn't! It's a little far from my house so I don't think I will be going there a whole lot!


St. Mark's Coffeeshop
Met Kim for coffee and a cookie one morning after Pilates! It's a cute little coffee shop in Uptown and a great place to sit outside and chat on a nice day!


April

Avenue Grill

Great sign!

Everyone is always raving about how great the happy hour is at Avenue Grill, so I made Max meet me after a particular stressful day at work! I think it might be a little fancy for us - and while my martini was delicious, I did not think it was anything special!

Rackhouse Pub
Max and I met Megan & Jon here for happy hour one night after work. Despite the fact that it took me an hour to get there it was worth the rush hour drive to Second and Kalamath! I of course had the signature Stranahan's whiskey and coke and also indulged in a side portion of their baked mac-n-cheese, which was to die for! So, so rich and delicious. It's definitely a "guy spot" but I would totally go back.

North
I have been wanting to try North forever and when I learned they have a $9 lunch special, it was the perfect opportunity to check it out on the cheap! It definitely lived up to my expectations! My chicken sandwich was great and we were in-and-out in less than an hour, perfect for a quick lunch!

Pinche Tacos
Jill has been raving about Pinche Tacos off Colfax for months so I knew I was going to like it! Tilo and I sat at the community table and enjoyed cheap beers (Modelo) and flavorful tacos (steak and queso). I was too full to try the churros, but they smelled so good - definitely going to go back here.

Now that I read the whole list it seems like I might go out too much. It's a good price to pay for living in a foodie city like Denver!

My Denver dining project

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to try at least one new restaurant/bar/coffee shop per month. I get so sucked into my favorite restaurants and dishes (Starbucks for coffee, Racine's for breakfast, Whole Foods for lunch, the Tavern for drinks and Steubens for dinner) that I wanted to force myself to branch out! So far, I am not having a problem, in fact I should probably scale it back since it looks like I might be going out TOO much!

January: 
Went to Ignite Fire-Crafted Food in LoDo for dinner with a big group. It was clearly the place to be for big groups, there were lots of 10+ tables. Our waiter was new and nervous but decent, same with the food! Nothing special but decent nonetheless.

Headed to Beatrice and Woodsley on the trendy Broadway strip for drinks with the girls. I absolutely loved their creative happy hour cocktails. Read more about that on my friend Jill's blog.

We finally got around to trying Jack & Grill (the location up north, not on Federal) with another couple after a comedy show in Westminster. No, we did not order the famous 7lb burritto. I thought the food was fine, but nothing special  -- just normal Mexican food!

February:
We got a Groupon from my sister for Christmas to try 730 South in Bonnie Brae. I had the Anaheim scrambler and Max had the eggs benedict. The food (and bottomless mimosas) were great, but I didn't love the atmosphere. To me, it seemed like an upscale Village Inn.

I finally got to try Hutch & Spoon in the RiNo district and it lived up to my expectations! It's a little out of my way (30th and Larimer) but I got to pop in for lunch on my Monday off. I had a turkey + cranberry compote sandwich on the fluffiest sourdough bread and one of their homemade sodas (passionfruit/vanilla), which was super yummy! I want to go back and try their breakfast - Belgian waffles and a cappuccino? Yes, please!

March is looking busy already with two Denver Restaurant Week reservations already made, both for places I've never been. I also want to seek out a local coffee shop to try. Any suggestions?

Colorado staycation ideas

We've been thinking about a staycation in lieu of an actual vacation this year. It's a cheap chance to escape the laundry and dog walks, if only for a fleeting weekend. I would like to think I am a staycation expert; my friends and I average about one per year!

If you're lucky enough to call Colorado home, every season offers a perfect staycation escape! Here are my picks:

Winter wonderland in downtown Denver

The ultimate definition of staycation; a getaway in your own city!

• Sleep: The Sheraton Downtown is a newly-remodeled landmark with spacious rooms right on the 16th St. Mall.
• Nosh:  Savor small bites and sip on cocktails for half off during happy hour at the Edge Bar at the Four Seasons. While we can't afford a luxe night in at the Four Seasons, we sure can afford the bar. The see-and-be-seen hotspot is just a short walk (or mall-ride) away from the hotel. 
• Sip: Stock your overnight bag with a small assortment of favorite wines to enjoy before or after dinner.
• Enjoy: Hit the year-round heated pool for a priceless Denver view or simply catch up on books or magazines over snacks in your room. Of course there's always a bevy of entertainment right outside the hotel door. Don't forget a cheap and quick caffeine jolt at Peet's (in the Sheraton) or Starbucks (across the street) before you head home in the morning!

Springtime in Boulder

I have such great memories of college in Boulder and relish any chance to go back!

• Sleep: The St. Julien is such an elegant, but modern, hotel. The high cost is offset by sharing a room with friends and you'll love the views, along with the plush robes.
• Nosh: T-Zero at the St. Juilen is Boulder's best-kept inexpensive secret. The tots are to die for and I can personally attest to the quality of the key lime martini!
• Sip: The rooftop bar at the Rio is across the street from the hotel, with amazing views of the flatirons. Enjoy your frozen marg!
• Enjoy: Since you're staying just steps off Pearl Street, might as well spend a lazy afternoon browsing in and out of the timeless shops. Peppercorn is a personal favorite.

Summer splendor in the Springs

The pool at the Broadmoor

There's something magical about the Broadmoor. I imagine myself at some sort of European resort, surrounded by mountains and the picturesque Broadmoor lake.

• Sleep: The Broadmoor's summer rates are extremely reasonable. I think we paid $260 in July.
• Nosh: Dinner at the ultra-mod Summit restaurant can run a little pricey. Slip over to the lounge during social hours (think pre or post-peak dining time and you'll find inventive small bites and cocktails between $4 and $9 each.
• Sip: The Golden Bee, of course. A trip to the Broadmoor just wouldn't be complete without the eponymous stickers flicked on you by the energetic servers. Think about what raucous piano-friendly tune means the most to you and be ready to sing it loud.
• Enjoy: The resort’s pool is second-to-none. People-watch with a pina colada poolside and you'll swear you're on a tropical vacation.

Late fall in Aspen

Mud season offers some of the best deals around for Colorado locals not looking to ski or revel in the summer beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

• Sleep: Mention you're a Colorado resident and you could get a little discount from the old-Aspen gem,  Hotel Jerome
• Nosh: Savor a pizza at Brunelleschi's Dome right near the shops and your hotel for some cheap eats.
• Sip: The J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome will unite you with colorful characters and tourists alike. You won't leave without a good story to tell!
• Enjoy: Spend the afternoon window shopping (there's no way you'll be buying Louis Vuitton) and the evening at the outdoor hot-tub and you'll be set.

Take advantage of Denver's driving-distance gems with your friends, family or significant other!

Neighborhood love: Skyland

Probably my first choice for a neighborhood is Skyland, also known as North City Park. I would love to take Winnie for walks at the park with the mountains and city in the background!

Description from Take Root Denver:

An opportunity for outdoor recreation, proximity to Downtown Denver, Skyland is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Denver. Skyland is located east of downtown and immediately north of City Park. It offers an abundance of employment opportunities within a ten-minute radius by car. It has recreational amenities like shopping, golf, City Park (hosting free summer concert series every year), Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Denver Zoo around the neighborhood. Architecturally, most of the homes are Classic Victorian brick homes. Skyland homes are typically located on lots with big front yards and wide swaths of grass between the sidewalk and the street.

Pros: It's only about 3.3 miles to each of our workplaces. It's only about 1.5 miles from some of our favorite restaurants and coffee shops on 17th avenue. Its obviously close to the park and the schools are great for that area. The houses are mostly brick and some have been flipped or remodeled. Also, many of the houses have good-sized backyards!

Cons: There's not a grocery store we like close by. We typically stick to Sprouts/Whole Foods or King Soopers/Safeway and none of those are anywhere near the neighborhood. It's also very small in terms of neighborhood size so I don't expect there to be a lot of inventory, although we have seen about 3 homes in our price range recently.